Eve Ensler's one-woman show The Vagina Monologues, subtitled An Anthropological Exploration currently playing off-Broadway at HERE, was originally scheduled to run through Nov. 15. The show has been extended through Dec. 31.

Monologues, reveals a series of different women's stories and experiences involving their genitals. The piece was born when playwright Ensler realized that her work, mostly about women, was missing the connection to the female genitalia. Ensler said," I couldn't be thinking about [liberating women] without thinking about vaginas. I wanted to know about what women were feeling about their vaginas. As I talked to women, I was so awed and amazed by what people were telling me that I began to think, 'there's a [theatre] piece here.'"

This is the second time Ensler performs ...Monologues at HERE, a performance space in lower Manhattan that houses HOME for Contemporary Theatre and Art, where Ensler serves on the Board of Directors. After first performing the piece two years ago in little venues around New York, she toured the show around the states for over a year.

Last year, HOME ran ...Monologues at HERE for two performances only. This year, her extended run includes a small stage set. Gossip columns have reported the attendance of many stars, including Wynona Ryder, who reportedly gave the show a standing ovation, and Goldie Hawn, for whom Ensler is writing a screenplay.

Ensler said, "The reaction to it has been really positive and not in a typical way. People have responded personally to it. They examine issues. . . when I travelled we did Q&A's afterwards, it amazed me how vulnerable people were willing to be. People have been really fantastic." Now audiences have extra time to open up to the The Vagina Monologues at HERE, 145 Sixth Ave, south of Spring Street, running Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, through Dec. 31. Tickets cost $15-18.

--By Blair Glaser